Bath Rugby’s young guns showed they’re hard to beat, says Griffin

Centre Charlie Griffin believes that Bath Rugby’s young guns showed they are hard to beat when they went down narrowly to Gloucester Rugby on Friday 14th November.

Bath Rugby’s young side felt frustrated to have lost at Gloucester Rugby in PREM Rugby Cup Round 4, according to centre Charlie Griffin | Photo © Richard Briggs

The Blue, Black & White lost 19-17 to the Cherry & Whites in a PREM Rugby Cup Round 4 tie at Kingsholm Stadium – but they have a lot to be proud of, as Griffin confirmed.

At his post-match press conference, the 19-year-old said: “The main feeling is frustration really.

“I think we had a lot of opportunities which we probably didn’t take, a lot of chances in their 22 which we didn’t capitalise on.

“But full credit to Gloucester, they’re a great side, very physical.

“We have an average age of 21 in that squad, which is seriously young.

“And the main thing we always be proud of is being tough to beat, and I think we always showed that today with a young squad.

“There’s only two points in it but we still feel frustrated because we could’ve won. So I think that’s a good sign.

“We have a lot more to give, especially with a young side.

“I think five in the back line there normally start for the uni [University of Bath].

“So when we get that opportunity, everyone’s really excited to try to take it with both hands. And I think a lot of people did that last week and this week.”

Of turning out in front of a 10,226-strong crowd at Gloucester, he said: “I’ve played here before a couple of times, when I was younger – not quite in front of a Shed like that.

“You could hear it at the end, the fans, they’re really passionate and they love it, and it’s a great atmosphere.”

Griffin, who can also play on the wing, praised coach Ryan Davis, who is leading Bath in the current block of cup matches.

“Great guy,” said Griffin. “He actually coaches us all at uni as well. So there’s a great sort of cohesion there. He’s really clear, really concise, gives us a clear plan to follow.”

And Griffin, a former pupil of Harrow School in London, cannot believe his good fortune to be working alongside the likes of Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh at Bath.

Griffin said: “Unvelievable. There’s competition all over the park in centres and wing. So when you get into training and everyone’s there, you just try to learn from it and ask loads of questions and see what they’re doing.

“But more importantly, just keep your head down, keep working, and I hope the opportunity [for a place in the Gallagher PREM side] will come because a lot of times it does.

“I’ve played a lot of wing recently in the last year and then before that at school I played a lot in the centre as well. I wouldn’t really say I have a preference.”